Haslam Sports Group names Tim Bezbatchenko as President of Global Soccer | Columbus Crew

columbus – Haslam Sports Group (HSG) today announced that Tim Bezbatchenko will return to Ohio State as HSG’s President of Global Soccer, overseeing all athletic elements of Columbus NWSL 2028, the Columbus Crew, and HSG’s future investments in domestic and world soccer.

Mr. Bezbatchenko, who will assume the role of President of the Black Knights Football Club upon the conclusion of his contract, has over 17 years of experience in global soccer leadership roles, having appeared in three MLS Cups, one MLS Supporters’ Shield, two Concaf Champions Cup Finals and three Canadian Championships.

One of HSG’s first hires after taking over the Crew in 2019, Bezbatchenko will report to CEO, Chairman and Managing Partner Dee Haslam and Jimmy Haslam, and join President of Business Operations Mary Shepro as the first executives selected to set the strategic direction for the Columbus men’s and women’s professional soccer clubs.

“Tim’s leadership and dedication have helped set Crewe’s path to success from day one with Haslam Sports Group. We are excited that he will support Issa Tolle, Mark Nichols and the entire Crewe technical staff as we build the foundation for a championship-contending Columbus NWSL 2028,” said Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “Tim has benefited from expanding his global experience with Black Knight Football over the past two years, and it’s truly special for him and his family to return home as we begin the next era of soccer together in Columbus.”

“It’s incredible to be part of the launch of an NWSL team and to continue to support the Crew after more than five stellar years with the club and as a lifelong fan. I’m honored and grateful that the Haslam, Johnson and Edwards families have trusted me with this opportunity to work alongside their exceptional leadership, coaches, staff and players as we compete for championships in both leagues,” Bezbatchenko said. “This leadership group is what inspired me to return to Columbus in 2019, and they continue to be one of the best ownership groups in all sports, with their ambition to compete for trophies and their never-ending pursuit of unifying communities through sports. This is the perfect time for my family to return home, especially as I know first-hand their long-term investment and commitment to the development of soccer in central Ohio and across the country.”

“I would also like to thank Bill Foley, Ryan Caswell, everyone at Black Knight Football Club, AFC Bournemouth and our group of clubs for giving me the opportunity to work with multiple teams across Europe at the highest level of the game. This has been a unique opportunity for me to grow both professionally and as a person. I am looking forward to applying what I have learned here within the NWSL and MLS,” added Bezbatchenko.

Bezbatchenko will spearhead HSG’s efforts to build the Columbus NWSL 2028 soccer staff and roster with a mission to consistently compete for championships, including a global search for the club’s first general manager and head coach. The Westerville, Ohio, native furthers his long-standing relationship with Crew general manager Issa Toll, who served as the Crew’s assistant general manager for player personnel and strategy from 2019 to 2024, and also has a long-standing relationship with Toronto FC’s player personnel and scouting department from 2014 to 2015, when Bezbatchenko led the clubs’ soccer operations. They were also members of MLS’ Player Relations and Competition Departments in 2013.

After serving as President and General Manager of Crewe for over five seasons (January 2019 to June 2024), Bezbatchenko spent the last two years at Black Knight Football Club, a consortium of European clubs including AFC Bournemouth (Premier League – England), FC Lorient (Ligue 1 – France), Moreirense FC (Liga Portugal – Portugal) and previously Hibernian FC (Premiership – Scotland). He will serve as Executive Director of the Hibernian FC Board from 2024 to 2025 and will conclude his term as President of Moreirense SAD at the end of this season. During his time with Black Knight Football, AFC Bournemouth achieved their highest ever points total (56) and achieved their highest ranking (9th place) during the 2024-2025 season. With one EPL game remaining this season, the Cherries equal their record points total and sit sixth, having already qualified for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s 127-year history. Furthermore, FC Lorient won the Ligue 2 title in 2024-2025 and deserved promotion to the First Division, and finished 9th in Ligue 1 in 2025-2026. Moreirense also finished the 2025-2026 Liga Portugal campaign in seventh place.

In Columbus, Bezbatchenko led the Black & Gold to two MLS Cups (2020 and 2023), becoming one of only three clubs with three or more league championships, and also won the 2021 Campenes Cup. The Crew also reached the Concaf Champions Cup final for the first time in 2024 and ultimately lifted the League’s Cup 2024 trophy, setting the stage for the MLS side to appear in three major tournament finals in nine months for the first time.

The successes in 2023 and 2024 came after Bezbatchenko oversaw the recruitment of former head coach Wilfried Nancy and one of the most active summer transfer windows for the Crew soccer coaching team, which featured the transfers of 2020 MLS Golden Boot winners Diego Rossi and Evgen Chevelko, the release of Lucas Zelarayan, and other notable transactions. Crewe also received significant contributions from the talent developed within the club. Aidan Morris, a 2023 MLS All-Star and homegrown midfielder who later moved to Middlesbrough FC in the English Football League Championship. Patrick Schulte, finalist for 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, 2022 MLS NEXT Professional Goalkeeper of the Year, and selected for the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Sean Zawadzki is a local captain and midfielder. and 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Best Eleven defender Mohamed Farsi. In 2024, midfielders Taha Havrun and Cole Mrouka signed homegrown contracts, becoming the first individuals to complete a full player pass after representing both Crew 2 and Crew Academy.

Bezbatchenko and Thor also secured the signing of striker Cucho Hernandez in 2022 for the club’s highest transfer fee in history. Cucho flourished in MLS and was named MLS Cup MVP and 2023 MLS Best Eleven (the first Crew player to win the award since Jonathan Mensah in 2020), before moving to La Liga side Real Betis in February 2025.

Complementing the success of the first team, Crew 2, led by first team interim head coach Laurent Courtois, won the inaugural 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Cup and 2023 Eastern Conference Championship. The 2023 Crew Academy was also named Academy of the Year by its peers.

Bezbatchenko, a 2021 SportsBusiness Journal Forty Under 40 honoree, joins Columbus after serving as Toronto FC’s senior vice president and general manager of soccer operations from 2013 to 2018 and as Major League Soccer’s senior director of player relations and competitions from 2010 to 2013.